Mokena Functional Medicine

When it comes to peaceful Chicago suburbs, it’s hard to beat Mokena. Many families call this lovely village home due to its excellent schools, clean and safe downtown area, and friendly neighbors. This tight knit community makes for wonderful neighbors, and we always appreciate the friendly patients who come see us from Mokena. We are happy to serve the residents of Mokena for their functional medicine needs. As the top functional medicine doctor Mokena calls for wellness, Dr. Clint Sexton is here to help!  Learn more now.

When it comes to traditional medicine, many people feel lost and unheard. They are experiencing symptoms without a precise cause, and no one seems to be able to tell them why — they simply prescribe them a pill and send them on their way. At Naperville Integrated Wellness, we are all too familiar with these frustrations, and that’s why we offer our functional medicine treatments to Mokena residents. At our facility, you can anticipate being treated as a person rather than a set of symptoms. We provide extensive testing to ensure that we can find the root cause of your issue, enabling us to create a customized care plan to help your body begin to heal itself.

Functional Medicine - The Basics

Functional medicine takes a patient-centered approach, delving into the underlying causes of chronic illnesses rather than merely alleviating symptoms. It scrutinizes the intricate interplay of genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors contributing to an individual's health concerns. By viewing the body as a complex, interconnected system, practitioners of functional medicine seek to restore equilibrium and enhance function. Through tailored treatment strategies encompassing dietary adjustments, exercise regimens, stress mitigation techniques, and targeted supplements, this holistic approach fosters more comprehensive management of chronic conditions. Consequently, it empowers individuals to experience improved quality of life and attain better long-term health outcomes despite enduring health challenges.

Conditions We Treat With Functional Medicine

Autoimmune Diseases

Functional medicine offers a holistic approach to autoimmune diseases, aiming to restore immune system balance naturally by identifying and addressing underlying triggers like food sensitivities and toxins. This involves dietary changes, stress management, and improving gut health through interventions such as healing the gut lining and restoring microbial balance. By targeting root causes and utilizing natural interventions, the approach promotes long-term health and wellness by supporting immune function and reducing inflammation.

Brain Fog For Mokena Residents

Early signs of brain fog include difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, mental fatigue, slowed thinking, confusion, difficulty finding words, decreased alertness, impaired decision-making, mood changes, and coordination issues. These symptoms may indicate underlying factors such as sleep disturbances, stress, nutritional deficiencies, or other health conditions, highlighting the importance of addressing root causes to improve cognitive function and overall well-being.

Chronic Fatigue or Exhaustion 

Signs of chronic fatigue or chronic exhaustion may include persistent tiredness or lethargy despite adequate rest, unrefreshing sleep, difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks, memory problems, muscle weakness or aches, headaches, irritability, mood swings, decreased motivation, and impaired immune function leading to frequent illnesses. These symptoms often persist for an extended period, impacting daily functioning and quality of life. It's important to consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and management if experiencing these symptoms.

Chronic Health Conditions

Functional medicine offers assistance for a broad spectrum of chronic conditions, including autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal issues, hormonal imbalances, chronic pain, mental health disorders, cardiovascular diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, neurological disorders, and environmental sensitivities. By focusing on identifying and addressing the underlying root causes of these chronic health conditions, functional medicine aims to restore balance and optimize health. Treatment plans typically involve personalized approaches encompassing dietary adjustments, lifestyle modifications, targeted supplementation, stress management techniques, and other natural interventions tailored to the individual's unique needs. Through this holistic approach, functional medicine seeks to improve quality of life and long-term health outcomes for individuals grappling with chronic health challenges.

Chronic Inflammation vs Regular Inflammation

Regular inflammation is a natural and necessary response of the immune system to injury or infection. It is a short-term process that helps the body heal by removing harmful stimuli and initiating the repair process. Examples of regular inflammation include the redness, swelling, warmth, and pain that occur around a cut or scrape as the body works to fight off pathogens and repair damaged tissue.

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is a prolonged and dysregulated immune response that persists over time. It can result from various factors such as persistent infection, autoimmune disorders, obesity, stress, poor diet, or environmental toxins. Unlike regular inflammation, chronic inflammation does not resolve on its own and can lead to tissue damage and contribute to the development of various chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune conditions.

Depression and Anxiety

During a functional medicine doctor visit focused on depression and anxiety, expect a comprehensive examination of your medical history, lifestyle, and environmental factors impacting your mental well-being. Collaboratively, you'll devise a personalized treatment plan integrating dietary adjustments, lifestyle modifications, stress management techniques, supplementation, and other natural interventions targeting the root causes of your symptoms. This holistic approach aims to equip you with the tools and insight needed for lasting relief from depression and anxiety, recognizing the intricate connections within your body's systems. Follow-up appointments will likely be scheduled to monitor progress and refine the treatment plan to better address your specific needs in managing depression and anxiety effectively.

GERD

Early indicators of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) include heartburn, regurgitation, acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, chronic cough, hoarseness or sore throat, excessive belching or burping, laryngitis, and dental problems. These symptoms often occur after eating or when lying down and can lead to discomfort or complications if left untreated. Consulting a healthcare professional is crucial if you experience these symptoms regularly, as they can provide proper evaluation and management to alleviate GERD symptoms and prevent further complications.

Insomnia with Functional Medicine

Signs that you may have chronic insomnia include difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, waking up too early and being unable to go back to sleep, non-restorative sleep that leaves you feeling tired upon waking, daytime fatigue or sleepiness, irritability, difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks, mood disturbances such as anxiety or depression, increased errors or accidents, and impaired social or occupational functioning due to sleep difficulties. Chronic insomnia typically persists for at least three nights per week for three months or longer and can significantly impact overall well-being and quality of life. If you experience these symptoms regularly, it's important to consult with a functional medicine doctor for proper evaluation and management.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Solutions

Indicators that you may have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) include abdominal pain or discomfort, often relieved by bowel movements, changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both, bloating, gas, urgency to have a bowel movement, feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, mucus in the stool, and symptoms worsened by certain foods, stress, or hormonal fluctuations. These symptoms typically occur over an extended period, with patterns of flare-ups and periods of remission. If you experience these symptoms regularly, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and management of IBS.

Migraine Help

You should visit a functional medicine doctor for migraines if you experience severe or frequent migraines disrupting daily life, migraines unresponsive to over-the-counter medications, new onset of migraines over age 50, migraines with neurological symptoms, migraines after head injury, worsening migraines over time, migraines triggered by specific factors needing identification, or migraines interfering with work or daily tasks. Consulting a functional medicine doctor can help diagnose migraines, rule out underlying conditions, and recommend suitable treatment options for effective symptom management.

PCOS Solution

Signs that you may have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) include irregular menstrual cycles or absence of menstruation, excess hair growth on the face, chest, or back (hirsutism), acne, thinning hair or hair loss (male-pattern baldness), weight gain or difficulty losing weight, darkening of the skin (acanthosis nigricans), oily skin, infertility or difficulty getting pregnant, and multiple small cysts on the ovaries detected via ultrasound. Additionally, symptoms such as insulin resistance, fatigue, mood changes, and sleep disturbances may also be present. If you experience these symptoms, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional, who can conduct a thorough evaluation and recommend appropriate treatment options.

Thyroid and Hashimoto’s Disease

Signs in women that may indicate a need to have their thyroid checked include unexplained weight changes, fatigue or lethargy, changes in menstrual patterns, irregular or rapid heartbeat, sensitivity to cold or heat, dry skin, hair loss, constipation, depression or anxiety, muscle weakness, and swelling in the neck (enlarged thyroid gland or goiter). These symptoms can vary in severity and may indicate thyroid dysfunction, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and management.

Hashimoto’s

Indicators that you may have Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid gland, include symptoms of hypothyroidism such as fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, dry skin, constipation, muscle weakness, joint pain, depression, and menstrual irregularities. Additionally, you may experience symptoms related to thyroid inflammation, such as a goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), neck discomfort or swelling, and difficulty swallowing. Other signs may include hair loss, brittle nails, elevated cholesterol levels, and cognitive difficulties such as brain fog or memory problems. If you experience these symptoms, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and management.

Natural Weight Loss Solutions

Functional medicine doctors use a variety of tactics to support weight loss, focusing on addressing the underlying factors contributing to weight gain and metabolic imbalances. These tactics may include personalized dietary interventions tailored to individual needs, such as emphasizing whole foods, reducing processed foods and sugar, and addressing food sensitivities or intolerances. Lifestyle modifications, including regular physical activity, stress management techniques, optimizing sleep quality, and addressing hormonal imbalances, are also emphasized. Additionally, functional medicine doctors may utilize targeted supplementation with vitamins, minerals, and herbs to support metabolic function and promote weight loss. By taking a holistic approach and addressing the interconnected factors influencing weight, functional medicine aims to facilitate sustainable and long-term weight loss while improving overall health and well-being.